This is the 500th issue of The Sun. In recognition of the milestone, we’ve devoted more than half our pages to a special section titled “One Nation, Indivisible,” which features excerpts from the magazine going back to the first issue in 1974.

Rather than celebrate the magazine’s history, we wanted to address the current political moment by giving readers perspective on the past and courage to face the present.

Because of the large number of contributors in the special section, we were unable to list them all in the print edition, but we want to thank them and everyone else who has had work published in The Sun over the years. And of course we are grateful for our readers, without whom none of this would have been possible.

If you enjoy the excerpts in “One Nation, Indivisible” and want to read the full text of each selection, click the title that follows each excerpt.

— Ed.